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VIP612 Lockups and Reboots

New member here - I've been "lurking" for a while, and previously had a trouble-free 508 / Dish-500 system for many years.

Just did the "Dish'n-it-up" upgrade to a VIP612 / Dish-1000.2. Software is L6.03. TV is a late-model Mitsubishi LCD, currently connected to 612 by component video (have tried HDMI also).

I'm seeing several problems with the new system. The main ones are:

1. Lockups - About every day or so, I have a complete 612 lockup. This has happened both during recording and during playback. If recording, the machine stays in record mode (red light on). If playing, the picture just "freezes". In either case, there is no response to any of the remote commands... a front-panel reset (hold power button several seconds) seems to be the only way out. After going through the reset process, all seems fine until the next time this happens.

2. Spontaneous reboots - About every two days, the 612 will spontaneously reboot when I am watching a DVR event. This happens when I am just watching, not touching any controls or turning on/off any other part of the system.

I've tried the "unplug-wait-30-seconds" reboot; the problems remain. The VIP612 is normally plugged in to a UPS - I've also tried powering with an extension cord to a wall-outlet on a totally different circuit. Again, the problem remains. I originally had the 612 & TV connected via HDMI, now component video. Same problems both ways.

My question to the group is this: Is this likely to be a hardware or a software issue? Also what other things should I try before getting into the Dish CSR roller-coaster?

I have two 612s. The one in the bedroom has been pretty much flawless. The one in the family room is disintegrating. The frequency of freeze-ups and stutters became intolerable so I called Dish and a replacement will be here by Thursday. The only difference between the two is that the family room 612 is hooked up to the Internet and has a 1TB external drive hooked up to it.

There must be grounding problem with these receivers and everything points in that direction.

Dish Network had me remove the two RF connectors from the satellite to the DVR from the back of the VIP 612 DVR and to touch them to the back of the DVR to discharge them (touch both the center wire and the outer metal at the same time).

After I discharged the two RF cables, the DVR has not rebooted while I’m present (four days).

Dish Network says that static electricity builds up in the cables in stormy weather.

I scheduled a service call to look for a grounding problem, but after they didn’t show up for the first appointment and then didn’t show up for the second appointment, I canceled the service call. By phone the service person said to wait until the rebooting starts back up before calling them again.

This is my second VIP 612 DVR in 7 weeks. I can tell you that if you let the rebooting problem go uncorrected, it will cause other problems - like pushing the Guide Button only to have the DVR reboot.

I have two 612s. The one in the bedroom has been pretty much flawless. The one in the family room is disintegrating. The frequency of freeze-ups and stutters became intolerable so I called Dish and a replacement will be here by Thursday. The only difference between the two is that the family room 612 is hooked up to the Internet and has a 1TB external drive hooked up to it.

Update - the new 612 was replaced shortly after my 5/17 message above. Since then, other than the occasional stutter, my only ocmplaint has been trying to record HD sports, specifically Red Sox games on NESN HD via a DishPASS. All I got were 0 second black screens even though the listing said I had 4 1/2 hours recorded. I've since tried eliminating the 1-minute-early-start bit from the even and it seems to have worked. Guessing there was a problem starting when the channel is 'off' and it not picking up when it is 'on'.

I have been through FOUR 612 boxes from Dish, all replacements under warranty, and NONE of them have worked properly. All freeze periodically for about a minute and all have random skips of a second or more of audio/video. The box is JUNK!

SeaBeagle, this is a very old thread. The problems reported are no longer an ordinary problem with the 612. It is a pretty stable receiver now. There will always be an occasional reboot of most any of these receivers.

The message you got has nothing to do with the rebooting problem. That message means you have the receiver set to turn off if you do not change channels or use the remote after a set period of time.

Just to be clear, the inactivity timer is to prevent burn in should you leave the TV on with a static channel. You will notice the screen moves.
Also, disabling it only prolongs how long the the receiver stays tuned to the channel. As mentioned above, when it reboots overnight it will go into the saver mode anyway.

As for wasting time, I guess it's the age we live in, pushing one button (Select, the biggest button on the remote) to instantly see TV doesn't seem like a waste of time!